How You Can Help Manage Health Care Premium Increases These helpful tips can help you save money.

Human Resources
October 4, 2022

Being an informed health care consumer means understanding your benefits and the ways you can help manage health care costs. Past claims experience is one of the main factors in determining the cost of future medical premiums. If we all work together to manage medical costs, we can positively impact future premium increases.

What can you do?

• Engage in your care
• Ask questions
• Use the tools and resources available to you through Aetna
• Review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) for accuracy
• Stay healthy

Helpful tips to save you and your plan money!

Access In-Network Providers
In-network providers are contracted with Aetna so they cannot bill you for more than what the insurance company approves. Out-of-network providers have no limit on the amount they may charge for services. To find a participating Aetna provider, go to aetna.com/docfind.

Use the Aetna member website (aetna.com) to help find care and pricing.
Aetna’s price transparency tool allows you to search for different types of procedures and see a cost estimate for locations based on the city and state you’ve selected. The tool will provide a price estimate based on where you are in your plan’s annual deductible.

Get Your Preventive Care – At No Cost to You
Preventive care is a great way to avoid sickness and stay healthy. Your Aetna medical plan covers the cost of eligible preventive care, including annual physicals, age-appropriate screenings and tests performed by in-network providers. Remember, early detection can be lifesaving!

Save money by using freestanding facilities
A great way to save money on health care costs is to seek alternatives to expensive hospital settings for certain services. Free standing facilities can offer radiology services, diagnostic imaging, lab work and even outpatient surgery. These facilities are often more accessible than a large hospital, and may have shorter wait times and lower costs.  You should always talk to your doctor about your best options for medical care.

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room
If your doctor is not available, seeking care for non-life-threatening medical conditions at an urgent care center can be less costly than through an emergency room. An urgent care center visit is $50 versus an emergency room copay of $300. Of course, if you are having a true medical emergency, get to the nearest emergency room right away.

Teladoc
Another option for affordable medical care when your doctor is not available is through Teladoc. Teladoc is a virtual visit with a U.S board-certified doctor that can offer care in the comfort of your own home. Visit the Teladoc website at www.teladoc.com/aetna. The cost of a virtual visit with Teladoc depends on which plan you are enrolled.

• Aetna Choice POS II: $25 copay
• Aetna Choice POS II Carilion: $30 copay

Consider Generic Medications Whenever Possible
Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name equivalents. Generics save money — you will have a lower cost or copay as compared to brand-name drugs. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about generics and if they are right for you.

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
There’s no better way to take care of yourself than by creating a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and daily exercise. Your Aetna plan offers discounts on gym memberships, health coaching, fitness gear, nutritional products and much more. Log in to your Aetna member website (aetna.com) and look for the “Stay Healthy” tab.  Good health leads to lower health care costs!